‘A Minecraft Movie’ Sets New Record for Videogame Adaptation Openings with $301 Million Debut
Warner Bros.' long-awaited A Minecraft Movie has officially redefined the box office potential of videogame adaptations, opening to an impressive $301 million globally during its first weekend in theaters. The film brought in $157 million in the United States and $144 million internationally, outperforming industry projections that estimated a global debut closer to $150 million.
This performance marks a new record for videogame-based films, surpassing the opening of 2023's The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which launched with $146.4 million domestically. While Mario eventually surpassed $500 million in its first week and closed out its run with $1.36 billion, the strong opening of A Minecraft Movie suggests it could follow a similar trajectory.
The film, based on Mojang’s globally renowned sandbox franchise and backed by Microsoft, was produced by Warner Bros. Pictures. The studio’s co-chairs and CEOs, Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy, praised the outcome in an official statement:
“We’re absolutely overjoyed A Minecraft Movie has been so warmly received by audiences around the world. Its decade-long journey to the screen was overseen with great care by WBP’s Jesse Ehrman and his team, and we are thrilled their efforts have resulted in such a tremendous response.”
Directed by Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite), the cast includes Jason Momoa, Jack Black, Emma Myers, Danielle Brooks, Jennifer Coolidge, Rachel House, and Jemaine Clement. Jack Black portrays the game’s iconic default player skin, Steve.
While it remains to be seen whether A Minecraft Movie will match or surpass the staying power of previous top performers, its blockbuster opening signals not only the enduring popularity of the Minecraft IP but also growing confidence in videogame-to-film adaptations. However, with Minecraft being the best-selling game of all time—boasting over 350 million copies sold—the film's success may be more of an outlier than a roadmap for the genre.
Do you think A Minecraft Movie can surpass The Super Mario Bros. Movie at the global box office?
